Here Are Two Great Stories of Great Role Models

Here’s a link to a great story about a teenage black guy who grew up in the projects of San Francisco. He went to the worst high school in San Francisco, Balboa High School. During the past four years, there have already been a couple of shootings. He just graduated from Louisiana State University (LSU) and he’s going to join the Air Force. This man is a true role model.
Students Rising Above: La'mont Hargraveson

The Captivating Story of One Woman

In the summer of 2003, I went on a life-changing experience. I attended a Kairos retreat (a four day spiritual and silent retreat). This retreat has helped me understand myself almost completely.
I went with about 38 other classmates on this retreat. Then, there were six people from Christian Brothers High School in Sacramento who joined our retreat. I was perplexed, because I was in the only group that had two people from Christian Brothers in a “retreat group”, one girl and a guy. Sharmelia (a.k.a. Sharmy) and Brian just helped to enhance the retreat experience. I learned so much about myself from them.
During one point of the retreat, we had to say nice things to each other. Sharmy told me, “Insightful, intellectual—love the way words flow from your mouth.” Then, I told Sharmy, “ Words can’t describe what an important person you are to so many people.”
Shramy’s mom had to work in order to pay the bills. As a result, she had to take care of her younger relatives. She was their babysitter and guide. In addition, she helped out in the Sacramento community from the goodness of her heart and not just to complete a service requirement for school.
When Sharmy led her own Kairos retreat, she said during her speech (I am going to paraphrase what she said), “I have been through a lot in my life. But, I don’t complain about it. I just move on with my life. I know that I am a strong person, because I have a loving family and friends that are there to support me.”
Tragically, on December 4, 2003 Sharmelia died because a drunk driver hit her while she was waiting on the curb to cross the street. When I heard the news about it at school from Campus Ministry, I FELT LIKE SHIT.
I am sorry that’s how I really felt.
I cried during the whole lunch period as that’s the time I found out about it. The problem was…I could not talk to anyone about it. I couldn’t talk to my friends, because they weren’t on retreat. Most of the people I went on the retreat with I didn’t really talk with. As a result, I had this pain for several weeks. During the choral concert festival in my high school, I wore a purple ribbon (Sharmy’s favorite color) to keep her spirit alive.
I just ask myself this question: Why do bad things happen to such great people.
I wish that the world had more people who could at least be an ounce of who Sharmelia was. She was a unique person, and I am going to miss her.

This is the ultimate compliment I can give to someone.

"I Will Remember You" By: Sarah McLachlan
Album: Mirrorball
Year: 1999
A truly unforgettable song. Download the song or buy the single in record stores.
I dedicate this song to Shramelia Jefferies (1986-2003) and her friends/family.

I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories
Remember the good times that we had?
I let them slip away from us when things got bad
How clearly I first saw you smilin' in the sun
Wanna feel your warmth upon me, I wanna be the one
I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories
I'm so tired but I can't sleep
Standin' on the edge of something much too deep
It's funny how we feel so much but we cannot say a word
We are screaming inside, but we can't be heard
But I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories
I'm so afraid to love you, but more afraid to loose
Clinging to a past that doesn't let me choose
Once there was a darkness, deep and endless night
You gave me everything you had, oh you gave me light
And I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories
And I will remember you
Will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories
Weep not for the memories

Who Should Be Our Role Models

Celebrities and pro athletes make a lot of money. As Charles Barkley said it best, “I am not a role model.” They are one of the highest paid professions in the world. Here’s the problem: most of these people are not role models. Many of them just spend all their money on getting “high” and “wasted.” They are the best in what they do, other than that what else do some of these celebrities do. Many celebrities I admire like actress Parminder Nagra, but that’s another story.

Here are a couple of non-role model celebrities.
Paris Hilton:
The luckiest person alive. She inherits a fortune, and a pet turtle has a better IQ than her. She’s drop dead gorgeous but what Hollywood “it” girl is hot. You know what’s her occupation: professional partyer. Seriously, all I hear or watch “Celebrities Uncensored.” on E! channel. One guy from the village voice said it best, “I have seen Paris Hilton have so many nipple slips that I have seen more of her nipples instead of my own.”
Scary isn’t it.

Disney Channel Girl Stars: Lindsay Lohan, Hilary Duff, Britney Spears, & Christina Aguilera
Seriously, these girls have taken pop superstardom to another level. It’s just crazy.
I have developed a mathematical formula just for them:
Disney Channel Star + Great Singing Career= The Cover of Maxim, FHM, and/or Playboy Magazines.
These girls not only go for the tween audience (ages 9-12). The record labels know that many teenage guys go through puberty. You know what that means: masturbation; it helps keep the Vaseline and Kleenex industry booming.
I remember someone had this poster that said, “Every time you masturbate then you are killing a kitten.” Well, I know people who have already committed genocide against kitties if this were actually true.
These girls don’t want to think about it but the more provocative they look…the more their album sales go up. SEX SELLS.
That’s why these girls are not role models. They just want to make a lot of money. Artistic expression is a joke even when they write their own songs.